Argothian Treehouse

with Andy Van Zandt

EEEternal Witness

Another deck for Mirrodin Block constructed tournaments,  and again,  it has
its roots in other decks.  The best way to describe it is as a cross between
the Crystal Witness deck and the Cog deck.  The idea is based on some
experimenting my friend did with a deck containing engineered explosives, 
and how good it can be with a little bit of support against affinity.   It's
also, in general, a flat-out improvement on the Crystal Witness deck in my
eyes, since that deck no longer has much game.  It doesn't have the hard
lock of Cog,  but that's not usually necessary to win a game.  Here's the
list:

4 Trinket Mage
4 Viridian Shaman
4 Eternal Witness
2 Vedalken Mastermind
2 Hoverguard Observer
1 Plated Slagwurm
1 Aether Spellbomb
4 Wayfarer's Bauble
2 Engineered Explosives
4 Serum Visions
4 Oxidize
4 Condescend

1 Seat of the synod
1 Tree of Tales
1 Ancient Den
1 Swamp
1 Mountain
1 Blinkmoth Nexus
9 island
9 forest

Vedalken Mastermind being an optimal replacement for Shard, since it does
the same thing, comes down on turn 2, and isn't an artifact.  Remember,  he
says permanent,  so he can actually turn a blue mana into a second green
mana if necessary, among other minor tricks.  Popping up your Explosives to
change the counter number on them can also be good.  Plus his obvious
function of recursive comes-into-play abilities.  If in an odd situation, 
he can also save an artifact from your own Shaman,  just to get the Gray
Ogre into play.

Baubles and Trinket Mages, and to a lesser extent, Serum Visions all smooth
out your mana,  and help you optimize your Explosives.  You can
theoretically blow up Furnace Whelps/Arc Sloggers,  which many Cog builds
cannot.

Hoverguards and the Slagwurm provide a win condition when you need it,  the
guards also fight Nexuses, Sombers, and Whelps,  while Slagwurm should be an
auto-win against mono-red.  He's a 1 of,  because a lot of the time you
don't really want him,  but with Serum Visions/Witness,  you stand a good
chance of finding him if the need arises.  If you really hate him,  he can
be a third Hoverguard.

Obviously the Spellbomb and Condescends give you some game against Tooth, 
you should invariably trinket up the bomb just to have it threatening on the
table,  and hopefully have the Witness in hand to recur it when they tooth, 
so you can bounce both threats.

If you don't know what Shaman and Oxidize are for,  you probably shouldn't
be reading this article.

Sideboard:
1 Memnarch
This is for Pristine Angel or March of the Machines decks.  If you're bored,
maybe Tooth and Nail too, if you know they've sided out their artifact kill.

2 Plated Slagwurm
For some beatings against mono-red.

1 Scrabbling Claws
For the 2 decks that this one is similar to.  Cut off their recursion.

2 Aether Spellbomb
To bring in instead of the useless Engineered Explosives against Tooth and
Nail.  I'd also consider dropping two Wayfarer's for these against affinity.

1 Hoverguard Observer
Against other green-base decks,  and potentially anything with flyers.

4 Last Word
For Tooth and Nail, Pristine Angel, and March decks.  Maybe a couple for
mono-red too, as you see fit.  Out with the Oxidize, in with the counters.

4 Tangle Asp
For affinity.  Anti-absurd-fatty (Rigger/Atog).  I honestly considered these
in the main deck, in place of the hoverguards/wurm.  I deem these techy. 
They are an easy swap for the condescends.

As I said,  this is based on the theory that Engineered Explosives (that's
the EE in EEEternal Witness) backed up by some spot removal is very strong
against affinity.  Where most people can't handle a huge Rigger, you can. 
You can also make it so they'll never ever sac their board to an atog for
the win (eh... barring some disciples,  which are also a good thing to
explode when you can).  I wouldn't mind fitting another Explosives into the
main or side,  They're only sub-par against Tooth, and even then you can off
Abunas (most of the time if you blow it for 3, you'll be losing just as many
dudes).

Questions? Comments? Got a car you want to give me?  Shoot me an email.
 

You can reach Andy at: andyvanzandt@hotmail.com